Roguely Stated

Is it possible? Is it possible that our national dialogue has hit an all time low? I think it has…

Yesterday, in anticipation of GEN Petraeus’ testimony in Congress, the liberal, anti-war group, MoveOn.org, bought a full page ad in the New York Times defaming GEN Petraeus as “GEN Betray Us”.

It is absolutely unconscionable to me that any group, even those that are reflexively anti-war, would stoop so slow as to use anti-intellectual, defamation tactics in order to make a political point - all within the context of the most critical dialogue that a nation will ever engage in - whether or not to commit young Americans to fight a war for our nation. In fact, MoveOn.org chose to engage in these low-brow, purely political tactics even when it and its affiliates are the first to criticize the Bush Administration of engaging in the very same anti-intellectual, defaming tactics. I’m pretty sure that MoveOn.org would vigorously argue that the anti-intellectual nature of President Bush embodies much of the reason why are are engaged in an unnecessary, illegal, and immoral war.

While I strongly disagree with MoveOn.org’s sentiment, it is not unreasonable in a democracy for citizens and activist groups to take strong positions — particularly on issues of life and death. But is it unreasonable to ask those, who strongly hold these views, to do it in such a way that they argue their points on the merits of the issues and not on the quality of their smear?

Military officership is a time honored profession. It is absolutely amazing to me that MoveOn.org would choose to smear and defame the character of a professional military officer who has committed to a lifetime of selfless service to his nation. More specifically, within the Army, GEN Petraeus embodies the best of the professional military officer. He is a warrior who has been wounded, served in various other conflicts, led thousands of troops in combat as commander of the 101st Airborne Division, single-handedly accelerated the training and equipping of the Iraqi Security Forces, and now serves as the highest ranking combatant commander in Iraq. He is also a scholar who holds a PhD from Princeton, authored the Army counter-insurgency manual, and was in charge of 18 academic military schools prior to his command of Multi-National Forces - Iraq. GEN Petraeus will never be rich or profit from his duties as a military officer. He has answered the calling of service to the nation in an unforgiving profession — one that will call on you at any time to leave your family, not to mention the physical and psychological comforts of home, in order to put your life on the line for the nation. In fact, a military professional is one who is continuously risking their life because anyone who has served can tell you that training often can be as dangerous as combat, which is relevant since GEN Petraeus was wounded in the service to the nation during a combat training event.

Finally, it is unclear to me as to why MoveOn.org does not redirect its anger and energy towards the Democrats who it helped elect to end the war. The Democrats have proven to be woefully impotent on this front. The Democrats now possess the majorty in BOTH houses of Congress. Congress’ primary power is that of the purse. If they want to truly end the war, they have the power to do so by de-funding it. If there is any betrayal going on here, it is that the Democrats who were brought to office and to power, are not honoring the will and the convictions of the constituents who have given them that power. Again, the founders intended for an open society and ensured our rights to have an open dialogue — but, similarly, the framers intended for the will of the people to be heard.

The MoveOn.org activists will assert that the Republicans and specifically President Bush is guilty of not honoring the will of the people; but now, clearly, the Democrats are equally as guilty. I cannot fathom how a group who in priniciple believes that the war in Iraq is both illegal and unjust can allow their own (the Democrats they helped bring to Congress) to continue along the path of enabling the President to continue the war. Simply put, look at the facts. More troops have been committed to Iraq since the election of the Democrats to Congress than before — therefore, under the Democrats’ watch, they have allowed the war to be escalated when they were clearly brought to power to de-escalate, if not end the war.

While I completely disagree with the MoveOn.org’s position, I guess that I can understand their anger and frustration because there is no one more actively unrepresented in the halls of Congress than them — and they represent/symbolize those Americans who brought the Democrats to power in order to end the war.

So yes, in the end, MoveOn.org and I may actually agree on one thing — but for categorically different reasons - that it is a sad day for American politics.

Tags: America, Army, Bush, Congress, democrat, Iraq, Military, Military Officers, New York Times, Petraeus, security, war
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